Raleigh's Cameron Village will host its annual open house on Nov. 15 (that's Thursday), from 5 to 8 p.m. The open house will feature children’s gifts, local school groups and entertainment featuring the Raleigh boys' choir, Pullen Baptist Orchestra, window decor contest among Cameron Village merchants, and of course Santa’s arrival in a horse drawn carriage. In addition, the first 800 shoppers who spend $150 on Thursday night will receive a $25 Cameron  Village gift certificate. The event is free and open to the public. 

The Crabtree Valley Mall Belk store will celebrate its grand reopening Wednesday through Saturday of this week. As you may recall, the Belk Men's Store moved out of the main store in May and into its own space where Lord & Taylor used to be on the second floor of the mall. As a result, Belk could expand and renovate other departments. Here are some of the changes:
*There's a brand new 16,000-square-foot cosmetics area.
*The ladies shoes area is more than twice the original size.
*There's a new Belk and Co. Fine Jewelers shop.
*The intimate apparel area was relocated from the third level allowing expansion of the home store to 10,000-square-feet.
*The junior's department was relocated from the second level into a 5,000-square-foot space featuring a high tech decor complete with video monitors throughout the department.
There will be special events throughout the week to celebrate the store's new look. 

Stone Creek Village (at High House and Davis Drive in Cary) will have a Holiday Open House today from 1 to 6 p.m.  The center has many new shops and restaurants that have been in my Retailing column over the past several months, including Polka Dots Children's Boutique, Petite Soles children's shoes, Martin & Mary's boutique for men and women, Pink Alli gifts, and many more.  A magician will perform at 1 p.m. and a live band will play from 2 to 6.  Participating shops will provide refreshments and giveaways and drawings for prizes/gift certificates. Stop by if you're in the area... 

In Clayton, the new Shops at Middle Creek Commons will be having a grand opening celebration tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event at the new Lowes Foods-anchored center at N.C. 42 and N.C. 50 will feature family activities, including food samples at Lowes and a guest appearance by the grocer’s Kids Club mascot, "Danger Ranger Squeeky," plus a traditional pig pickin' barbeque, kid's games, face painting, balloon artists and a moon bounce. Also, the local food bank will be accepting donations of canned and non-perishable foods. And, local law enforcement will be on hand to provide fingerprinting and ID packets for children. If you're in the area, it could be a fun afternoon activity.

Well, the good news for Triangle-area kids is that they have the chance to see Santa arrive this month over and over and over again. I suppose this IS his busy time of the year...

Santa will be officially arriving at Raleigh's Triangle Town Center at 7 p.m. Friday outside at Creekside Cafes (the food court). And, if you miss him then, he will be appearing at Cary Towne Center on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Center Court. Now don't ask me how, but Santa will also be arriving at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh on Saturday, hosting breakfast with Santa between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. and then making his grand entrance at 10 a.m.

At Durham's Northgate mall, Nov. 16 will bring the first-ever tree lighting celebration at 7 p.m. The tree will be on the mall's roof near the movie theater and visible from I-85. Plans call for the tree lighting to happen at about 7:20 p.m. Santa will take his seat the following day. Santa will meet all children in front of Macy’s inside the mall at 10:45 a.m. to lead the special Santa Parade.  The first 100 Children in the Santa photo line at 11 AM will receive a free photo with Santa.

The following day, Santa will drive down the road to The Streets at Southpoint, where he will arrive during the mall's annual Tree of Lights celebration. Southpoint is going to make it snow (don't ask me how) for the tree lighting by the big guy himself at 8:50 p.m.

And finally, at Raleigh's North Hills, Santa will make an appearance at the tree lighting on Nov. 24, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. North Hills also plans to make it snow for the big event. Santa will be available every Saturday after that from 1 to 3 to visit with children between Fantasia and Wolf Camera, just a few doors down from Jolly's Jewelers.

(And for your four-legged friends, Santa will be hosting pet night at Crabtree on Nov. 13, 20 and 27, from 6 to 9 p.m.) 

The Streets at Southpoint in Durham has set the details for its annual Tree of Lights celebration. This year, the event will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17. The band Lifehouse will be performing a free mini-concert at 6:45 p.m., before taking the stage for the Tree of Lights special. Other performers will include 82nd Airborne All-American Chorus, The River Choir, Sissy Harrington and the North Carolina Dance Institute. You can also go to www.nbc17.com through Nov. 15 and use key word "tree" to register for a chance to win one of 17 VIP passes to the event. Last year, the Tree of Lights drew 40,000 people. 

Belk stores in our area will be participating in a special charity sale on Nov. 10 from 6 to 10 a.m. In return for a $5 donation, you can buy a ticket that will entitle you to discounts ranging from 20 to 50 percent (excluding cosmetics and fragrances). Plus, you will receive $5 off your first purchase of $5 or more at the event. Belk card holders will receive double points for purchases. Tickets will be sold by local charities participating or may be purchased at stores beginning today. Belk will also be giving away four $1,000 Belk shopping sprees. 

Cary Towne Center will host a blood drive on Saturday to help Rex Blood Services. The blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration will take place in center court, and the Rex Bloodmobile will be parked outside the food court.